Aberdeen & Aberdeenshire

With rolling hills, open farmland and towering mountains in the west and sweeping beaches, coastal cliffs and panoramic skies in the east, Aberdeenshire has plenty of room for you to relax and breathe.

Located on the north-east coast of Scotland, Aberdeenshire is the area in and around Aberdeen city and stretches from the Banffshire coast in the north all the way around to St Cyrus National Nature Reserve in the east, featuring beautiful coastlines, pretty seaside towns, rugged cliffs and sandy bays. There are hundreds of attractions and hidden gems dotted across the region, including centuries-old distilleries, fantastic parklands and golf courses, ancient castles, sparkling rivers and more.

The Aberdeenshire coast is home to plenty of swooping seabirds and it's one of the best places in Scotland to spot dolphins - they play in the waters of Aberdeenshire harbour and all along the Banffshire coast. Huge salmon and trout are regularly caught on sparkling rivers, including the River Dee, River Don and River Deveron as well.

Extra info

8 things to do in Aberdeenshire

If you've only got time for 8 amazing things on your holiday, these are the perfect place to start - capture the history on the castle trail, take a walk along the coast for stunning views, and don't forget to sample a drop of whisky!

Choose from self-catering, hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses, apartments and more. Centre yourself in a peaceful, family-friendly holiday park near the Banffshire coast, stay in a luxury self-catering lodge nearby the stunning setting of Stonehaven, or settle down in a fancy hotel whose building dates back to the Victorian era.

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12 Places to Visit in Aberdeenshire

Beyond the city of Aberdeen, you can find many picturesque towns and villages along the coastline and inland toward the Cairngorms National Park that are all unique and have many fascinating attractions to explore.

By Car

By Train

There are various railway lines that travel to Aberdeen from various locations across the UK, and you can also get the train from Aberdeen to many other cities and towns in Scotland.

By Bus

If you'd rather let someone else take the wheel, sit back, relax and take in the scenic views as you travel to Aberdeenshire by bus. There are many frequent and affordable bus services that travel from various main cities to Aberdeen daily.

By Plane

Fly into Aberdeen International Airport from a number of destinations, or fly to Edinburgh Airport and journey up to Aberdeen by car, bus, or train. There are also several other airports in Scotland that you can choose to fly to, including Glasgow, Inverness, Glasgow Prestwick, and Dundee.

How to Get Around Abderdeenshire

Aberdeenshire is a fairly sizable region, so the best way to experience the most of the area is to travel around by car, so you can pick and choose where you want to go and when. But if you prefer not to drive, you can hire a bike, take the train mainly around the coast or catch a local bus.